Texas man lost in the Gila National Forest found early Monday morning

Lost hiker cold but otherwise OK

SILVER CITY >> A 51-year-old man from Garland, Texas, was rescued early Monday morning after he got separated from his group the night before while camping in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico State Police Search and Rescue Field Coordinator Marc Levesque said.

A New Mexico State Police search and rescue team searched through the woods during the night and found the man at approximately 4:45 a.m. He was reportedly cold, but otherwise in good condition and did not require medical assistance, according to Levesque.

The search and rescue team were called out at approximately 8 p.m. Sunday. The backpacker got separated from his group of campers, got turned around and took the wrong trail. He also got separated from his backpack, and so was walking unequipped. Temperatures dropped down into the mid-30s in that part of the Gila National Forest, according to Levesque.

The group of campers began their camping trip by the Gila River at Sapio Creek on Friday, according to Levesque. They were leaving their campsite and walking out to head home when the one man in their group got lost.

NM State Police Search and Rescue sent out one team of three people at approximately 1 a.m. Additional resources were expected to be called in if the first team could not find the lost man by sunrise.